Abstract
In many sports, such as figure skating or gymnastics, the outcome of a performance does not rely exclusively on objective measurements, but on more subjective cues. Judges need high attentional capacities to process visual information and overcome fatigue. Also their emotion recognition abilities might have an effect in detecting errors and making a more accurate assessment. Moreover, the scoring given by judges could be also influenced by their level of expertise. This study aims to assess how rhythmic gymnastics judges’ emotion recognition and attentional abilities influence accuracy of performance assessment. Data will be collected from rhythmic gymnastics judges and coaches at different international levels. This study will employ an online questionnaire consisting on an emotion recognition test and attentional test. Participants’ task is to watch a set of videotaped rhythmic gymnastics performances and evaluate them on the artistic and execution components of performance. Their scoring will be compared with the official scores given at the competition the video was taken from to measure the accuracy of the participants’ evaluations. The proposed research represents an interdisciplinary approach that integrates cognitive and sport psychology within experimental and applied contexts. The current study advances the theoretical understanding of how emotional and attentional aspects affect the evaluation of sport performance. The results will provide valuable evidence on the direction and strength of the relationship between the above-mentioned factors and the accuracy of sport performance evaluation. Importantly, practical implications might be drawn from this study. Intervention programs directed at improving the accuracy of judges could be created based on the understanding of how emotion recognition and attentional abilities are related to the accuracy of performance assessment.
Highlights
Judges are often in the center of media coverage, repeatedly criticized, and sometimes undervalued part of the sport (Dosseville et al, 2014)
This study aims to recruit 50 rhythmic gymnastics judges approved by the International Gymnastics Federation (13% of the total number of judges at this level) and a control group of 20 rhythmic gymnastics coaches unskilled in performance judging
The first hypothesis stated that attention and emotion recognition are positively related to scoring accuracy
Summary
Judges are often in the center of media coverage, repeatedly criticized, and sometimes undervalued part of the sport (Dosseville et al, 2014). As a main tool of evaluation, used in rhythmic gymnastics is based on subjective decisions of the judges. These decisions might be affected by cognitive abilities of judges such as selective attention and vigilance. Research examined that individuals can identify multiple objects simultaneously, and in case of professional judges, the number is significantly higher (Cavanagh and Alvarez, 2005). It seems training and expertise increase cognitive resources available to process visual information. It seems training and expertise increase cognitive resources available to process visual information. Oksama and Hyönä (2004) showed that the capability for tracking multiple objects can be affected by factors such as increased speed of the objects (which decreases capabilities) and the novelty of the objects (familiar objects increase capabilities)
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